Folding stove platform

ABSTRACT

A portable cooking stove for use with portable gas canister and burner assemblies, the stove having a base portion with at least one opening therein for mounting a burner element to the stove, oppositely oriented side walls and an intermediate side wall extending between the oppositely oriented walls wherein the oppositely oriented side walls and the intermediate side are selectively movably relative to each other and the base portion between open and closed positions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention is in the technical field of cooking equipment. More particularly, the present invention is in the technical field of portable outdoor camping stoves.

Brief Description of the Related Art

Conventional camping stoves are either large, consuming significant space when packed for transport, or very small with limited support surfaces requiring the stove to be utilized at ground level. Such stoves are either difficult to transport or inconvenient to use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a portable folding stove platform with integrated wind shields that fold flat for storage and transport and allow for use of the stove in an elevated position to facilitate use at a more convenient height. The stove allows for easy assembly and disassembly for setup and packing. The stove is configured to be supported on legs, logs, rocks or even existing outdoor grills provided in many state and federal parks for use with wood or charcoal fuels. However, the stove is configured to be fueled by connection to known portable sources of gas supply such as portable gas burners and tanks or canisters including portable propane, butane burner kits and the like wherein one or more burners may be quickly attached to the base of the stove and connected to supply tanks or canisters by way of conventional ON/OFF valves.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

A better understanding of the invention will be had with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the portable folding stove platform of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the portable folding stove platform in the folded position for storage and transport;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the portable folding stove platform in a typical use situation; placed on a conventional or typical and readily available support stand and with a conventional or typical and readily available portable burner element and fuel source; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the portable folding stove platform in a typical use situation; placed on a naturally occurring structure, such as logs, and with a conventional or typical and readily available portable burner element and fuel source.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the invention of FIG. 1, the surface or base 11 of the stove 10 is sufficiently wide and long to allow use of one or more burner elements to be mounted thereto in a secure and stable manner, see the burner element images 20 and gas supply canisters 22 illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4.

Referring now to the invention 10 in more detail, in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 attached to the base surface 11 are sides 12, 13 and 14 that provide wind protection for the burner element(s) 20 along the back edge and opposite side edges of the base surface 11. These wind protection sides 12, 13 and 14 are attached to the base 11 with hinges 15 or similar methods that permit the sides and back to fold up and open for cooking and flat for storage and transport. The sides 13 and 14 secure, in the open position, to the side 12 via a latching mechanism, 16, such as a magnet, clasp or other mechanical latching mechanism. The wind protection sides 12, 13 and 14 fold flat and generally parallel against the base for storage and transport.

In more detail, referring to the invention of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, surface 11 is sufficiently wide and long to permit stable placement on a support structure such as a conventional camp stand 25 having support surface 26 and four legs 28 or other natural occurring support structures such as logs “L” or rocks found in typical camp settings. This permits a comfortable cooking height, such as about 12 to 30 inches high off the ground.

The construction details of the invention as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are that the invention 10 may be made of aluminum or of any other sufficiently rigid and strong material, and the like. Further, the various components of the invention 10 can be made of different materials. As shown, the sides and base are preferably planar in configuration such they be folded relatively flat upon one another as shown in FIG. 2.

The advantages of the present invention include, without limitation, that it folds flat, is portable and exceedingly easy to transport. In the folded position, it is smaller in profile and volume than typical or conventional multi-burner camp stoves. The platform provides a stable base and facilitates placement on conventional or natural support structures, elevating the working or cooking height to a comfortable position above ground level.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the portable stove 10 may be used with a number of conventional and known single or multi-burner elements 20 and are designed to be connected to portable gas canisters 22 equipped with appropriate ON/OFF valves. Holes or openings 24 are provided in the base 11 through which the base of the burner(s) may be extended to connect to the gas canisters. 

1. A portable cooking stove for use with portable gas canister and burner assemblies, the stove comprising a base portion having at least one opening therein for mounting a burner element to the stove, a pair of oppositely oriented side walls mounted at opposite ends of an intermediate side wall extending there between, the oppositely oriented side walls and the intermediate side wall being selectively movably between upright and open orientations relative to the base portion when the stove is in use and closed overlaying relationship generally parallel to the base portion when the stove is collapsed for transport.
 2. The portable cooking stove of claim 1 wherein fasteners are provided to secure the oppositely oriented side walls to the intermediate side wall when in the upright and open orientation.
 3. The portable cooking stove of claim 1 wherein the oppositely oriented side walls and the intermediate side wall are connected to one another with hinges. 